1 Dead Wrong

by Leighann Dobbs

  Chapter Twenty One

  Anastasia LePage fluttered into Sticks and Stones in a flurry of chiffon and gemstones.

  “I do hope you girls can help me.”

  She stared over her magenta bifocals, aiming her gaze first at Morgan and then Fiona.

  “Of course we can, Annie.” Fiona smiled at their eccentric customer. The wealthy octogenarian had discovered Sticks and Stones on a vacation to Noquitt several years ago. Being a true believer in the healing power of herbs and crystals, she usually made many purchases a year. Fiona and Morgan were happy to give her exactly what she needed.

  “What is it you need?” Morgan came around to the other side of the counter and pulled out a chair, motioning for Anastasia to sit.

  “Well, as you girls know, I’m getting on in years. I’ll be eighty-two in December.” She winked at Fiona. “And I’m just dying to have a great-grandchild.”

  Fiona raised an eyebrow at her. “How can we help?”

  “My granddaughter’s been married for two years and I’m very disappointed that she hasn’t produced a child.” Anastasia leaned closer toward the girls and lowered her voice. “I’m afraid she might need some help.”

  At the perplexed look on the girls’ faces, she continued, “Do you girls have herbs and crystals that help with fertility?” She waved her bejeweled fingers around the room, indicating the shelves of herbs and cases of crystals.

  “Oh, yes, of course!” Fiona laughed.

  “Then that’s what I need for my granddaughter. Can we package them up like gifts? I don’t want her feelings to be hurt.”

  “Of course.” Morgan went over to her herb rack. “I can make a bottle of evening primrose oil she could use for skin care and I can make some custom tea bags with dong quai and false unicorn root. Those are great for fertility.”

  “I can create a necklace, earring and bracelet set with moonstones, rose quartz and amethyst. Those stones go perfectly together and they will help with fertility too.”

  Anastasia clapped her hands together. “Perfect! I knew I could count on you girls.” Stabbing her cane onto the floor, she pulled herself up. “When can I pick them up?”

  “I’ll probably need a couple of days, what about you Fi?”

  “I have a few other orders to work on, so about four days. Could you pick them up on Friday?”

  “Certainly. I’m here for the entire summer, so no rush.” Anastasia said graciously as she turned toward the door.

  “I hope you dear girls haven’t been hurt by all that dreadful business with the Littlefield woman.” She half turned to face them.

  “Not too much. We’ll be fine.”

  “It was quite disturbing. My cottage is only a stone’s throw from where it happened.” Anastasia shuddered.

  “Oh, that must have been scary for you.” Fiona narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t see or hear anything, did you?”

  “As a matter of fact, I did.”

  Morgan’s eyes widened. “You did? What?”

  “I was having tea on my porch, as is my custom in the morning, when a young man burst out of the woods and ran off down the road toward the ocean. It quite startled me. I nearly had a heart attack.”

  “What time was that?”

  Anastasia wrinkled her brow looking up at the ceiling. “Well, it must have been around quarter past eight or a bit earlier. I usually take my tea between eight and eight thirty.”

  Fiona felt her heart beat racing. That was just about when Prudence was killed! “Did you see what he looked like?”

  “My eyes aren’t too good these days, dear. All I saw was that he had one of those hooded sweatshirts, but as he ran by the hood fell back and I noticed he had one of those awful tattoos.”

  “A tattoo? Of what?”

  “I’m not sure. It looked like a lightning bolt or something.”

  “Anastasia, did you tell the police about this man?”

  “The police? No. They didn’t even bother to talk to me,” she said waving her hand in dismissal. Then she turned the knob and opened the door. “Well, you girls have a lovely day.”

  Fiona shot Morgan a raised eyebrow look. “A young man running out of the woods right at the time of Prudence’s death? Maybe he saw something?”

  “Or killed her.”

  Fiona felt a chill run up her spine. “Either way, one thing is for sure, we need to find out who has a lightening tattoo on their neck and pay them a visit.”

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Fiona liberated the steamed clam from its shell and carefully peeled the membrane from its neck. She dunked it in broth, then butter and popped it in her mouth making nummy noises as the sweet, salty steamer slid down her throat.

  “These are awesome, thanks for bringing them home from work,” she said to Jolene, seated across from her at the wrought iron table.

  “Yes, thanks,” Morgan and Celeste echoed her words.

  Jolene looked up from dunking her own clam and smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  The four of them sat on the back patio in the fading evening sun. Situated high on a cliff, the patio sat at the point where the water from the Atlantic flowed into Perkins Cove, giving them a three sided view of ocean.

  The sound of seagulls and sting of the salt air were a perfect backdrop for the sister’s to indulge themselves in the ritual of eating steamed clams. She loved simple times like this with her sisters. Which reminded her, there might not be more of them if Morgan ended up in jail.

  “We got another lead in Prudence’s murder today,” Fiona said.

  Celeste raised her brows. “You did? What?”

  “A customer is staying in one of the cottages near the woods where Prudence was killed and she saw someone run out from there. We might need help in identifying him.” Fiona looked down at Belladonna, who had appeared at Morgan’s side begging for a clam.

  “Sure, anything. Do you think he’s from town? What does he look like?”

  “I don’t know if he’s from town, but the woman said he had a very distinctive tattoo on the side of his neck. I was hoping that, if we all ask around, we can figure out who he is.”

  Morgan threw Belladonna a clam. Fiona watched the cat pounce on it, sniff it, then flick her tail and walk away.

  “She said it looked like a lightning bolt.” Fiona looked up to see Jolene’s eyes grow wide.

  “I think I know who that is,” Jolene said dropping her clam. “Joshua Gray.” She looked around the table. “I told you guys about him before, remember. He’s kind of a bad apple. He also wears one of those nose rings like you had last night.”

  The table went silent.

  Fiona’s heart stopped. “Do you know where he lives?”

  “Over in Wells, right on the town line. He lives in a mobile home, but not in the trailer park, about a mile past it.”

  Fiona’s chair scraped the concrete patio as she got up.

  “Where are you going?” Morgan squinted up at her.

  “To pay Mr. Gray a visit.”

  Fiona sprinted into the kitchen and grabbed her keys. Morgan ran in behind her.

  “Wait, don’t you think we should call Jake before we go?”

  Fiona slowed down. They probably should, but that would waste time. Then again, if Joshua Gray was a killer, it might not be very smart to go there by themselves.

  “You can call him in the car on the way over.” Fiona yelled over her shoulder at Morgan as she sprinted for the front door.

  ***

  The decades old single-wide trailer sat in the shadow of the woods, its door slightly ajar and angled on its hinges. Grimy curtains fluttered out the kitchen window as if trying to escape. Fiona’s heartbeat raced as she approached it.

  “Joshua?”

  She was met with silence. Unusual silence. No chirping birds, no scurrying squirrels. The only sound was the door squeaking as the breeze moved it back and forth.

  Fiona found the silence unnerving. Her heartbeat kicked up another notch as she stepped up to the tr
ailer door and knocked on it.

  “Joshua Gray, are you in there?”

  Nothing.

  Over to her left, Morgan had ventured to the end of the trailer and was rounding the corner.

  Fiona’s chest tightened as she put her foot on the step and poked her head into the trailer through the open door.

  “Hello?”

  The 60 inch flat screen television that took up one whole end of the living room space was at odds with the rest of the decor which could only be described as junk. The floor was strewn with beer bottles and trash. Dirty clothes were draped on a stained lazy-boy chair and the sink and counters were hidden by piles of dirty dishes.

  “Josh, are you in here?” Fiona called out again, just in case he was in one of the other rooms.

  “I don’t think he’s going to answer.” Fiona’s heart lurched, she wheeled around to see Morgan, white faced and shaking.

  “Why? What happened?”

  Morgan pointed to the side of the trailer and Fiona walked in the direction she indicated, her legs getting heavier with each step.

  She rounded the corner.

  Her heart lurched when she saw it. A body lay on the ground amidst a pile of leaves that were stained dark red.

  Fiona gasped as she took it all in. Legs splayed at an impossible angle. Torso drenched in blood. Sightless eyes staring up at the sky. And a lightning bolt tattoo clearly visible on the neck.

  Fiona gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth, then she turned and ran back to join Morgan. Josh Gray wouldn’t be answering any questions for them, after all.

  ***

  Fiona sat on the trailer steps with her head between her knees. She was barely aware of the blaring sirens and sound of cars pulling into the driveway. The clams that tasted so good going down earlier in the evening were threatening to make a comeback and she was certain they wouldn’t be as tasty on the way up.

  A cool hand on the back of her neck caused her to jerk her head up.

  “Are you okay?” Jake looked down at her with concern in his eyes.

  She nodded, too queasy to speak. He massaged her neck while Overton barked orders behind the trailer.

  Finally, the nausea subsided and she lifted her head to see a flurry of police activity going on around her.

  Jake squatted down so that his face was level with hers. “What are you doing here?”

  “A customer at the shop said she saw a guy with a tattoo on his neck run out of the woods the morning Prudence was killed. It just so happened Jolene recognized the description of the tattoo and pointed us here.”

  “So you came here to confront him by yourselves? Do you know how dangerous that is?” A cloud of anger passed over Jake’s face.

  “We called you on the way,” Fiona winced. Her impulsive actions often got her into trouble.

  Jake scrubbed his hands through his hair. “It’s just that you could have gotten hurt. This guy could be a killer.” He touched her arm and her stomach did a somersault making her feel a little queasy again but for a different reason. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

  Fiona’s heart clenched. She opened her mouth to say something.

  “Cooper, get over here.” Overton bellowed from the side of the trailer.

  Jake did a half shrug, and put his hand on her knee. “I guess we’ll talk later.” He stood up and walked toward Overton.

  Fiona stared after him. Talk later? She was busy wondering just what that meant when Overton strolled by on his way to Morgan who was giving a statement to Brody Hunter.

  “Well, well, look who seems to be mixed up in another murder.” Overton stood in front of Morgan, a smug look plastered on his face.

  Fiona stood up and crossed the yard, putting her arm around her sister. “What are you talking about? We came to visit and found a body. Morgan called 911 for crying out loud!”

  Overton took the toothpick out of his mouth. “A perfect way to cover up that you’re the killer.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “Is it? I think it gives me enough to bring your sister in and question her.”

  “What?” Fiona sputtered. “Why would Morgan want to kill Josh?”

  Overton narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe he saw her kill Prudence and she was trying to silence him. Which means you’re probably in on it with her. Looks like I’ll have to bring you both in.” Overton crooked his fingers at another one of the uniforms who scurried over.

  “Cuff these two and put them in the car.”

  Brody eyed Morgan uncertainly. The officer grabbed Fiona’s elbow and she jerked it away.

  “Unhand my clients!”

  Delphine Jones came flying up the driveway, her purple and orange caftan billowing out like the mainsail of a frigate.

  Brody and the other officer stopped in mid-cuff, looking between Delphine and Overton in confusion.

  “You again.” Overton shoved the toothpick back in his mouth.

  “What’s going on here?” Delphine demanded.

  “We came to visit and found him dead, then called 911.” Fiona nodded toward the side of the trailer where Josh’s body lay.

  Delphine turned to Overton. “My clients were simply reporting that they found the body, like any law abiding citizen. I hardly see how that gives you cause to handcuff them.”

  Overton swooshed the toothpick around in his mouth and glared at Delphine.

  Fiona watched the two of them stare each other down. Delphine must have won because Overton eventually said, “Let them go. We can take their statements here.”

  Then he turned on his heel and stormed back behind the trailer.

  ***

  Fiona and Morgan suffered through a battery of questions. By the time they were done Fiona wanted to take Overton’s toothpick and shove it down his throat. Thankfully, Delphine stayed by their side to make sure the interrogation didn’t veer off track.

  In between the questions, the medical examiner had arrived and was updating Overton with information. Like the size of the knife, the fact it was serrated only three quarters of the way and that it had a distinctive scrolled hilt. Fiona filed it all away for later use, figuring it might come in handy to identify the killer.

  Fiona caught herself looking for Jake several times. Overton had kept him busy investigating the scene but the few times their eyes met, Fiona had felt a familiar zing at the pit of her stomach. Her heart warmed knowing Jake was looking out for them.

  “Looks like we’re done … for now.” Overton snapped his notebook shut and glared at the girls.

  “So my clients are free to go, then, right?” Delphine said it as more of a statement than a question.

  Overton gave her a look of pure hatred and Fiona knew that if it wasn’t for Delphine, she and Morgan might be spending the night in a cell. She wondered if Delphine had something on Overton that caused him to tread carefully around her and toe the line.

  “They can go,” he said to Delphine, then turned to Morgan and Fiona. “But don’t leave town.”

  Fiona made a face behind his back. “Don’t leave town? How cliche can you get?” Morgan and Delphine laughed.

  “My job here is done, so I’ll be on my way. If Overton harasses you about this any more, call me right away.” Delphine turned and headed toward her car.

  Fiona watched Delphine flutter down the driveway. The woman had really come in handy. Fiona congratulated herself for having the good sense to hire her even as her mind tried to calculate how much of the five thousand dollar retainer they’d already blown through.

  “Let’s go home, I’m exhausted.” Morgan covered a yawn with her hand.

  Fiona glanced around the yard. Only a few cops remained.

  “Jake already left with Brody,” Morgan said looking at Fiona out of the corner of her eye.

  Fiona’s cheeks burned. “I wasn’t looking for Jake.”

  “Right.” Morgan led the way to the car.

  “It’s kind of scary. I’ve lived here my whole
life and I don’t think there’s been more than four or five murders the whole time. Now there have been two in less than a week. They have to be related.” Morgan snapped the seatbelt into place.

  “It would seem that way, but why would someone want to kill Josh?” Fiona backed her truck out onto the road, and put it into drive for the short trip home.

  “I was thinking about that. I wonder if he did witness Prudence’s murder and the murderer killed him so he wouldn’t talk.”

  “Or, maybe he was the one who killed her, and then someone killed him for revenge.”

  “Like who?”

  “Maybe Ed. Maybe he really did love her?”

  Morgan pursed her lips. “Maybe. Or, it might not have anything to do with Prudence’s murder. Jolene said he was a bad apple and into some shady stuff. Maybe one of his deals went bad.”

  “I can’t believe Overton was trying to pin it on us. He really has it in for us … well mostly for you. Why do you think that is?”

  Morgan shrugged. “Who knows? I get the feeling he’s had his eyes on us, watching us, since he came to town and investigated Mom’s death. It’s creepy.”

  Fiona sighed as she pulled into their driveway. “Well, I guess there is nothing we can do except try to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow I have to get some of my projects at the shop out of the way so I can get Anastasia’s set done by Friday. Tomorrow night Jake and I are supposed to meet with Cal to see if anyone has tried to pawn or sell Prudence’s necklace. Wanna come?”

  Morgan glanced sideways at her, a smile tugging the corners of her lips. “Oh, I’d love to but I can’t.”

  Fiona’s brow creased wondering what Morgan found so amusing. “Okay, I’ll just go with him then. Maybe Cal will have a lead on the jewelry and Jake will have a better idea of who killed Josh Gray … and why.”

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Fiona felt a blast of cold air as Jake held the door of Reed Pawn and Antiques open for her. She slipped inside, rubbing her arms for warmth.